Amusement device



Dec. 15, 1931. L. H. M DANlEL 1,337,055

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 28, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Dec. 15,1931. L. HIMCDANIEL 1,837,055

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 28, 1929 a Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I I I I I l I II I I I I I I l I I l I l I I I I tl I INVENTOR n ATTORNEY Dec. 15,1931. L. H. M DANIEL AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 28, 1929 3 sheets sheet3 INVENTOR M WWN l atented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITE stares PATENT OFFICELEROY H. McDANIE-L, OF WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGN- MENTS, F ONE-HALF T0 JOSEPH I. SHR-EBNIK, OF NEW HAVE-N,CONNECTICUT AMUSEMENT DEVICE Application filed May 28,

3; be propelled by a blast of air, which may be guided upon anysupporting surface, the vehicles being capable of independent controland the entire device being capable of use outdoors or indoors, withoutany disturbing 53 factor in the utilization of an artificial draft ofpropelling of air as that which may be formed by cross currents ofoutside wind or eddy currents in creating a draft or blast of air in apartially or completely enclosed chamber. It is contemplated by myinvention to provide some continuous area in the nature of a trackcapable of supporting freely and independently guided air propelledvehicles in the nature of sail boats wherein the cycle about thecontinuous area or track includes propulsion by an artificial draft ofair of a character wherein the sail boats are free from any outsidedisturbing influences, and an additional propulsion in combination withthe first character influence including a gravitational impulse wherebythe cycle comprises a mecnanical propulsion by a stream of air and'itation al impulse to return the vehicle to the initial starting placewhere it I may be again acted upon and come under the influence of theartificial draft or blast of air.

it is a still further object of my invention to provide an amusementdevice including a supporting area or surface where independentlyoperable and individually controlled vehicles in the nature of sailboats may be guided and Eubmitted to propulsion by an artificial draftof air, the supporting surface comprising a continuous track, over aportion of which the vehicles are solely under the in- 1929. Serial No.366,701.

fluence of the artificial draft of air and free from disturbinginfluences, and another portion over which the vehicles return to thefirst point of the cycle, preferably including as propelling means aninclination of the track effected to permit gravity to propel thevehicles to a point on the track of the amuse ment device wherepropulsion is obtained by the artificial draft of air.

' Still further objects of my invention reside in the provision of anamusement device wherein diversion is obtained from rapid propulsion ofa vehicle, accompanied by the thrill obtained in moving through a draftor blast of air and the ability to independently control and guide avessel under these conditions. It is contemplated by my invention toprovidean amusement device including vehicles which are air propelledand which may be continuously operated independent of outside influencesor mechanical defects due to the form of eddy currents characterized bycombining with mechanical means for impelling the vessels in the natureof an artificial draft of air, other means of moving the vehicles toreturn the vehicles to the initial point, such by associating therewitha construction, permitting the force of gravity to propel a vehicleafter it has been operated by an artificial draft of air, in order toreturn the vehicle to the zone influenced by the draft of air. Suchconstruction as is obtained in in clining a supporting surface or areais illustrative of one form of construction contemplated by me.

To attain these objects and such further object as may appear herein orbe hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a perspective viewillustrating my device;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 2;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Figure 2;

0 feet.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a sailboat vehicle, as may be usedwith my device.

Making reference to the drawings, it will be observed that in thepreferred form of my invention, the device comprises a suitablesupporting structure 10 which may be erected upon any plot, supporting ageneral floor 11 which may be reached by stairs 12. This supportingarea, for convenience, has an enclosing fence 13 and a track 1%,provided with defining curves 15. The track 14 is so made in order thatit may pro-vide a continuous surface upon which vehicles may be moved.The size of the vehicles is large enough to hold one or more persons andthe track is correspondingly enlarged to preferably give free andindependent movement along the track, for purposes which w'll appearmore clearly as this description proceeds. The track M is preferablyconstructed so that its supporting area 15 defines substantially fourdifferent inclined surfaces, with a single point which is substantiallythe lowest point. In the embodiment as illustrated, the point 16 of thetrack is substantially the lowest point of the supporting area 15referred to and from this point the track inclines upwardly to thehighest point at 17, preferably at an incline corresponding to about onefoot in sixteen This is as more clearly shown in Figure 3. From thispoint, the track slopes downwardly in the direction of the point 18,preferably at a similar pitch and from 18 the track slopes furtherdownwardly to the point 19. From the point 19 the track leads to thefirst point of reference 16, either at an incline thereto, leveltherewith or on a slight elevation, depending upon conditions as willappear as this description proceeds.

Associated with the track, preferably adjacent-the point 16, I provide ablower 20, which may be a fan of the sirocco type and which preferablyextends peripherally to the track between the points 16 and 17, with anozzle opening 21 whereby a draft of air having a sufficiently strongimpelling force is obtained. Over the area of the track, between thepoints 16 and 17 and 16 and 19, 1 provide an enclosure in the nature ofa tunnel 22, of general L-shaped construction, the blower being locatedat the elbow of the tunnel, entering the tunnel through an orifice 23from the shed 24 in which the blower is mounted.

The tunnel 22 has the branch 25 disposed over the track between thepoints 16 and 19 and the branch 26 disposedbetween thepoints 16 and 17,and with entrances 27 and 28,, respectively. The entrance 27 is formedwith angularly inclined walls 29 and 29, thereby forming a constrictedpassage at 30. The cross section of the tunnel is such that by formingthe roof thereof level, it will form with the surface of the trackbetween the points 16 and 17 a gradually increasing cross sectional areaas it approaches the point 16 and a gradually decreasing cross sectionalarea as it approaches the exit 28 of the tunnel.

By the construction as described, I prefer to provide vehicles in thenature of sail boats 81, as shown in Figure 6, preferably provider witha square rig sail 32, and a set of three wheels, the front ones of which33, 33 are mounted for free rotation upon an axle, and having laterallybufieting casters 33, mounted on the sides of the boat. The rear wheel84 is controlled through vertical shaft 35 by a tiller 36 whereby aperson positioned u on the seat 37 may guide the same by operating thetiller. Vehicles of the character described may be provided in anynumber desired within limits of the track, which is of a width such aswill permit these vehicles to freely pass each other at points along thetrack and also to permit relatively free movement along the width of thetracl: by an operator.

Adjacent the entrance 12, for a portion of the track, a platform 38 isprovided and in front of this the track is offset at 39 to provide agate 40 and braking mechanism 11. The gate is preferably one which mayextend along the width of the track by pivotal movement so that as inthe position shown in Fig ures 1 and 2, it will guide a vehicle betweenthe braking device 11 and the platform 38. In operation. as will now bedescribed, the gate s0 is moved to the dotted line shown in Figure 2.

To commence a trip. the blower 20 is put into operation and this blowerhas a draft of air which is calculated to operate upon the sail 32, thesail being of a size which will not only carry the vessel 32 but thevessel when loaded with one or more persons. Such vessel so led from theloading platform 38, is released by unbuckling the braking mechanism 11,which has been bent by the eccentric cam 42 so that it may be moved tothe dotted line. From this position. due to the inclination of the trackbetween the points 18 and 19, the vehicle will gravitate towards thepoint 19, adjacent the entrance 27 of the tunnel. At this point therewill be an intake of air due to the suction created by the air movingfrom the blower 20 out through the tunnel and opening 28. This suctioneffect is augmented by the Venturi effect obtained by the inclined walls29 and 29'.

This suction will act upon the sail of the sailboat and draw it into thepassage through the entrance 2?, towards the nozzle 21 of the blower. Itwill be observed, however, that if the track between the points 19 and16 is inclined toward the point 16, this action of the suction will beaccentuated. The track between the point 19 and 16 may, however, belevel and still obtain sufiicient movement or it may be slightly liftedtowards the point 16,

in which event the movement will be retarded until the sail boat reachesa point adjacent the blower, when it will catch the full blast from thenozzle 21. When it reaches a point adjacent the nozzle 21, the passengermay then, by the aid of the tiller, guide the sailboat through thetunnel 22 by the impelling force against the sail and the movement ofthe stream of air through the tunnel. For purposes previously indicated,the roof of the tunnel 22 is so constructed to provide a reduced crosssectional area adjacent the opening 28 whereby the velocity of thestream of air is not substantially diminished at a point more distantfrom the blower 21.

A sailboat so impelled or blown, reaches the highest point 17 withconsiderable speed and the operator of the sailboat may then guide orsail the same on the track between the points 17 and 18, the momentum ofthe boat being augmented by gravity as the track is inclined downwardly,as previously described, between the points 17 and 18. The operator ofthe sail boat may steer the same along the width of the track, asdesired, especially where there may be other sail boats which haveemerged from the tunnel at the same time. The cycle is completed bygliding or rolling on the track between the points 18 and 19, the gatei0 having been moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2.Trips around the track include passages through the tunnel, the boatbeing drawn thereto and moved therethrough and then the trip across theunenclosed portion of the track, by reason of the momentum previouslyderived in the tunnel and because of the inclination of the tracktowards the entrance to the tunnel.

In this manner it will be observed that an amusement device is providedin which the thrill of rapid movement, especially through a tunnel, isobtained, at the same time assuring that the driving force is of themaximum, efliciency and free from any disturbing element, such asoutside winds or eddy currents. The vehicles such as may be mounted uponthe track may be readily controlled in that at the end of each trip,they will all be directed through some controlling passage, such as agate, for purposes of facilitating loading or unloading of the vehicles,thereby providing a device which requires a minimum number ofattendants.

The device further offers maximum free dom from error to the unskilledin controlling the sails, for purposes of tacking and other means ofvarying the direction of movement of the vehicle, at the same, withinlimits giving independence of movement in steer" ing the vehicle uponthe track, particularly in reference to other vehiclessimilarly guidedupon the track.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An amusement device comprising in combination with a supporting areaarranged to support a vehicle capable of being moved by a stream of air,of artificial means for forming a stream of air capable of propellingsuch vehicle within certain limits of said area, said supporting areabeing formed inclined beyond such limits to move the ve hicle in adirection away from that initially given to it by the stream of air.

2. An amusement device comprising in combination with a supporting areaarranged to support a vehicle capable of being moved by a stream of air,of artificial means for forming a stream of air capable of propellingsuch vehicle within certain limits of said area, said supporting areaincluding inclined portions formed to gravitationally return saidvehicle adjacent the air stream forming means.

3. An amusement device comprising in combination with a supporting areaarranged to support a vehicle capable of being moved by a stream of air,of artificial means for forming a stream of air capable of propellingsuch vehicle within certain limits of said area, said supporting areaincluding guiding portions formed to gravitationally return said vehiclein the line of the stream of air.

4. An amusement device comprising in combination with a supporting areaarranged to support a vehicle in the nature of a sail boat and capableof being propelled by a stream of air, said vehicle being capable ofbeing independently controlled, of a blower for forming a stream of aircapable of propelling such vehicle within certain limits of said area,said area having guides outlining a path returning to a point adjacentthe blower.

5. An amusement device comprising in combination with a track arrangedto support a vehicle in the nature of a sailboat, capable of being movedby a stream of air, of a tunnel covering a portion of said track, airimpelling means for forming a stream of air through said tunnel, thesupporting area within said tunnel being inclined whereby the vehiclewill be propelled through said tunnel by the stream of air, said trackbeing inclined away from the tunnel whereby the vehicle may begravitationally moved beyond said tunnel.

6. An amusement device comprising in combination with a track arrangedto support a vehicle in the nature of a sailboat, capable of being movedby a stream of air, of a tunnel covering a portion of said track, ablower for forming a stream of air through said tunnel, an entranceconnecting said track with said tunnel, the exit and the entrance tosaid tunnel, respectively, lying substantially adjacent the uppermostand lowermost areas of an inclined surface to gravitationally return thevehicle from the exit of said tunnel to the entrance thereof.

7. An amusement device comprising in combination with a supporting areain the nature of a continuous track arranged to support a vehicleincluding a sail capable of be ing propelled by a stream of air, saidtrack being formed with a portion thereof upwardly inclined, air streamconfining walls over said por ion of said track, a blower capable ofpropelling said vehicle up said inclined portion, the remainder of saidtrack being formed with a supporting surface inclined to return saidvehicle adjacent said blower.

8. An amusement device comprising in combination with a supporting areain the nature of a continuous track arranged to support a vehicleincluding a sail capable of being propelled by a stream of air, saidtrack being formed with a portion thereof upwardly inclined, air streamconfining walls over said portion of said track, a blower capable ofpropelling said vehicle up said inclined portion, the remainder of saidtrack including a portion thereof formed inclined downwardly togravitationaly return the vehicle to a position where it may be againpropelled upwardly on the first mentioned portion of said track.

9. An amusement device comprising in combination with a supporting areain the nature of a continuous track arranged to support a vehicleincluding sails capable of being propelled by a stream of air, saidtrack being formed with a portion thereof upwardly inclined, air streamconfining walls over said portion of said track, ablower capable ofpropelling said vehicle up said inclined portion, the remainder of saidtrack including a portion thereof formed with supporting surfacespermitting gravity to augment the movement of said vehicle in adirection returning the same towards the blower, where by said vehiclemay then be further propelled by said blower.

10. An amusement device comprising in combination with a supportingsurface in the nature of a continuous track arranged to support avehicle capable of being propelled by a stream of air, blower capable ofpropelling said vehicle over a portion of said track, said trackincluding other portions outside the area under the influence of saidblower, said last named track portion cooperating with said vehicle toaugment its speed of movement.

11. An amusement device comprising in combination with a supportingsurface in the nature of a continuous track arranged to support avehicle capable of being propelled by a stream of air, a blower capableof propelling said vehicle over a portion of said track, said trackincluding other portions formed at an incline to permit gravity toaugment the movement of said vehicle outside the area under theinfluence of said blower.

12. An amusement device comprising in combination, a supporting area forvehicles having a sail for propulsion, a blower for actuating said sailover limited sections of said area, a tunnel formed over said sections,said tunnel having a suction intake for said vehicles and an exit withthe portions of the tunnel therebetween formed to compensate for theloss of velocity of the air stream formed by said blower through saidtunnel, said supporting area being formed to guide said vehicles fromsaid exit to said intake.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 25th day of May,1929.

LEROY H. MoDANIEL.

